Loose-leaf binder



Nov. 23 1926. I 1,608,338

C. L. RETTMAN LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed NOV. 14, 1923 Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

UNITE STATES t A T CORNELIUS L. nnze'riaen, roti'e-rriennrsrn, eas.

LOOSEMLEAF. BINDER.

A iieation filed November 14 1923, Serial No. 8% 65.

My invention relates to loose leaf binders, and more particularly to the metal parts of such binders, the object of my invention being to provide metal parts having the novel and advantageous features hereinafter set forth.

In the attached drawings:

Figure 1, is a plan view of the metal parts of a. binder made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2, is a section of the metal parts taken on the line 22, Fig. 1, and showing the parts applied to the backing;

Fig. 3, is a section of the metal parts taken on the line 33 Fig, 1, also showing the parts applied to the backing;

Fig. 4, is a sectional view similar to that of Fig. 3, but showing the paper-engaging hooks in the open position;

Fig. 5, is a view in perspective of the tubular metal body;

Fig. 6, is a view in perspective of one end closure of the body in which is mounted the operating lever;

Fig. 7, is a sectional View of the end cl0- sure illustrated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8, is a view in perspective of the other end closure;

Figs. 9 and 10, are respectively views in perspective of the hook-retaining plates;

Figs. 11 and 12, are respectively views in perspective of the hook elements, and

Fig. 18, is an enlarged fragmentary per-- spective view showing the means of holding the backing at the center.

lVith reference to the drawings, the device comprises a substantially tubular body portion 1 formed in the present instance of integral tubing having a substantially lozenge-shaped cross section. This tubing, as best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, is adapted to hold two flat plates or bars, shown respectively in Figs. 9 and 10 and designated by the reference numerals 2 and 3, the longitudinal edge of the plate 2 having a rounded bevel 4 which is adapted to fit within a'correspondingly shaped recess 5 in one of the longitudinal edges of the plate 3. The opposite longitudinal edges of these plates are adapted, as clearly illustrated, to fit into the side corners of the body 1. The combined width of the plates 2 and 3 is such that in either of the positions illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, they fit snugly into the body 1 so that a distinct pressure is required to shift the plate from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4, this movement entailing a slight lateral distortion of the said body. In order to accommodate this movement of the plates, the body member is preferably made of some resilient metal, such as brass, and the natural resiliency of this metal acts to retain the plates 2 and 3 in the aforesaid positions, illustrated in Figs, 3 and 4.

Each of the plates 2 and 3 is provided with tapped holes 6, in which are threaded hook elements 7, 7, these elements projecting through slotted apertures 8, 8, in the body member 1. The hook elements 7 7 are clearly shown in Figs. 11 and 12, are adapted to. meet at their outer ends when the plates 2 and 3 assume the position illustrated in Fig. 3, the hooks thereby forming loops which retain the sheets of paper in well known manner. lVhen the plates are shifted, however, to the position shown in Fig. 4, the abutting ends of the hooks 7, T, are separated, thereby permitting removal of the said sheets.

The opposite ends of the tubular body member 1 are provided with end closures, shown respectively in Figs. '6 and 8 and designated by the reference numerals 9 and 11. As clearly illustrated, each of these, closures comprises a part 12 which fits within the end of the tube and a shoulder 13' which abuts the end edge of the body portion. The end closure 9, as best shown in Figs. 6 and 7, is apertured in the end for the reception of an operating lever 14, the inner end of which, as illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, underlies one end of the plates 2 and 8 at their meeting edges, the lever 1.4 being retained in the closure 9 by means of a collar 15 suitably secured to the lever on the inside of the closure, the collar in the present instance being threaded on the lever which is cylindrical. The lever is further retained in a normal position in the closure by the offset outer end which at the extreme ity carries an abutment or enlarged portion 16 constituting a rest for the thumb or finger with which the lever is operated. The relative sizes of the aperture 17 through which the lever extends and the lever itself are such as to permit free movement of the lever in the closure sufficient to elevate the plates 2 and 3 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4, this movement being accomplished by a down ward pressure upon the button 16. The

, which plates 2 and 3 are returned to the normal hook-engaging position, as shown in Fig. 3, by pressure upon the hooks 7, 7.

As shown in Fig 2, the body portion 1 and the associated elements are adapted to be secured to the book backing or cover 21 by means of rivets 18, 18, or the like, which are passed through the backing and through suitable apertures in' the said body member. These rivets are also uti ized tor holding the end closures 9 and 11 in place in the body portion, each of the said closures being provided with an aperture 19 which when the closures are inserted in the ends of the tube 1 are entered by the heads of the rivets 18, the said heads passing up into the aperture and preventing retraction of the end closures except by the application of considerable force. This arrangement simplilies the construction and the assemblage of parts and also provides for the removal of the end closures when this is necessary.

Means is also provided for holding the body 1 tightly against the backing 21, said means comprising a metal strip 22 secured at its ends to the body 1 by the rivets 18 and at its center passing under a strap 23 pressed out of the body 1, as shown in Figs. I and 13. The strip 22 also is suitably secured to the backing 21 at each side of the strap 23, the strip in the present instance passing un der straps 2 1, 2 1, on the inside of said backing. In this manner, the backing is held close against the body 1, while the flatness of the back is preserved.

I claim:

1. A loose leaf binder comprising a one piece closed and apertured tube, a pair of plates extending longitudinally through said tube, said plates abutting each other along one edge and bearing with their other edges against the sidesot the tube and adapted normally to assume a position in misalignment, and hook elements projecting through the apertures of said tube and secured in said plates and adapted in one position of the said plates to engage each other at their outer ends and in another position of the plates to assume a position with their ends separated.

2. A loose leaf binder comprising a onepiece closed and apertured metal tube adapted for attachment to a' backing, plates extending longitudinally through the tube and having interengaging side edges, and hook elements secured to the said plates and extending through the apertures in the body.

3. In a loose leaf binder, the combination with a onepiece closed metal tube having apertures, or a pair of plates extending longitudinally through the tube and having interengaging side edges, tapped holes in said plates, and threaded hook elements extending through the apertures in the tube sure elements detachably secured in the ends of said tube.

5. In a loose lea-f binder, the combination with a tubular body member adapted for attachment to a backing, of a pair of plates extending longitudinally through the said body and having interengaging side edges, end closures for the tube, one of said closures having an aperture, a lever having a threaded shank projecting through the said aperture and having its inner end underlying the said plates, and an internally threaded collar adapted to the threaded portion of the lever on the inside of the tube and preventing withdrawal of said lever.

6. In a loose leaf binder, the combination with a tubular apertured body portion, of a: backing, elements securing the body to the backing and projecting into the body, and end closures for the body retained by said elements.

7, In a loose leaf binder, the combination with a tubular apertured body portion, of apertured end closures for the body portion, a backing, and elements securing the body to the backing and projecting into the apertures in said closures.

8. In a loose leaf binder, the combination with a tubular body portion having leafretaining means and having slits forming a transverse strap, of a backing secured to the body at the ends thereof and also provided with transverse strap portions, and a strip intermediate the body and the backing and extending under the straps on both the body and the backing.

. CORNELIUS L. RETTMAN. 

